tches were gone. The ritual circle had faded, leaving only a faint shimmer in the grass. Her pendant had stopped g

presence had filled every shattered mirror, every flicker of memory. She had seen herself twisted into something monstro

ed her more

ly quiet. Emotion magic lingered in the air, and tonight it tasted like dr

the trees, cloaked in deep green, face hidden beneath a

figure said, voice low and

t relax. "W

with eyes like moss and skin etched with glowin

," she said. "I

"You're an Em

r dream. It tore throug

back. "I did

d gently. "And tha

ned on the satchel.

ou what co

nto the trees. Seren he

grew taller, older. The air thickened with memory. Seren felt he

ltar, cracked and overgrown. Around it, six monoliths formed a circle, each

r. "This is where the fi

pped clos

hey were the first to break free of th

d the altar.

Kaelen are not the first.

ooked u

low Moon's rupture. You weren't just

tightened. "So

r head. "You

l. She pulled it out and held it up.

think. He is memory. He is emotion

e crystal. "Then w

e you r

linked.

you what Umbros fears. You saw yourself. You saw

embled. "I felt

Lys said. "That's wh

he crystal. "Wh

the monoliths.

wned. "Ch

l to one emotion. T

ith a rhythm that matched her heartbeat. She ste

ebrow. "Not many

e. It was cold, but st

then dimmed. The silence monol

ed. "It

It no longer showed flickers of memory. It was quiet. But the quiet

to Lys. "

ou'll need tha

row furro

pires have felt the rupture. The werewolves

turned. "They'

alread

split t

the sound. It wa

ck. "Go. I'll

en

ts shifting. The howl came again, joined by others. M

clearing and sk

heir fur bristling. One stepped forward and shifted, bo

the Pact,"

he crystal. "I

rowed. "Then you

back. "He's

the enemy," Riven said.

ealing two elders-Thorne and

round. "I'm not

d forward. "T

rowned.

. Face the Mo

brutal. It tested loyalty, strength, and

me. "If you survive, you st

crystal. It pulsed

d. "I'll

"Then let th

nd led her in

foll

low Moo

elow, Umb